What is the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival?

China celebrates many traditional festivals throughout the year, with the Dragon Boat Festival being one such event that usually takes place around the beginning of summer. It is a public holiday in China and is also celebrated by many other Asian countries. Also known as Duanwu Jie or Dumpling Festival, festivities include taking part in and watching boat races and enjoying rice dumplings. Get prepared for the upcoming celebrations; you can purchase all the ingredients you need for the Dragon Boat Festival right here at Oriental Mart!

When is the Dragon Boat Festival Celebrated?

The festival takes place on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This means it does not fall on the same day every year and usually takes place somewhere at the end of May or the beginning of June. In 2022, the Dragon Boat Festival will be celebrated on Friday 3rd June.

What is the History of the Dragon Boat Festival?

As with many Chinese myths, legends and origin stories, there is some contention about the beginnings of the festival. The most popular and common story behind the festival is that it is held in commemoration of the death of Qu Yuan, a poet, statesman and eventual national hero. Qu Yuan served as a Minister of Law and Ordinance in his home state of Chu during the Warring States period of 481-221 BC. Despite his patriotism, Qu Yuan was banished after opposing a proposed alliance between Chu and the Northern state of Qin as he was wary of their intentions. Inevitably, Chu was defeated by Qin twenty-eight years later. Upon hearing the news, Qu Yuan threw himself into the Miluo River, drowning himself on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar – and so the commemorative festival was born.

What Does the Dragon Boat Symbolise?

Since the inception of the festival, dragon boat races have been held with competing teams rowing elaborately-designed dragon boats to the steady rhythm of beating drums. The races can be linked back to the Qu Yuan origin story as when he entered the river, local people raced out in their boats to try and rescue him or retrieve his body. When they were unable to, they instead threw balls of sticky rice into the water so that the fish would eat them rather than his body. These sticky rice dumplings, known as Zongzi, have therefore become another tradition of the festival.

What are the Traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival?

Many of the other traditions associated with the festival are linked to securing good luck because the fifth month is thought to be unlucky as this is the time when the ‘five poisonous creatures’ (centipedes, snakes, scorpions, lizards and toads) begin emerging into the world. Aside from boat racing and dumpling-eating, the festival also prompts people to hang mugwort and calamus, which deter flies and are thought to discourage disease and bring good luck into your household. It’s also traditional for parents to make perfume pouches for their children, which are tied to clothes as ornaments and are thought to protect the wearer from evil.

Dragon Boat Festival Food

For many (us included), the best part about any kind of annual celebration is the food! And you’ll find a couple of classic treats associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, perfect for sharing with others and capturing a sense of celebration. Different treats may be more popular in various provinces with regions having their own traditions.

Zongzi Dumplings

These dumplings are one of the key parts of the festival. Zongzi are sticky rice dumplings made from sticky glutinous rice and often come with a variety of fillings. They are wrapped in bamboo leaves and formed into recognisable triangular shapes. While they can be enjoyed at any time of year, they are usually made and enjoyed specifically for the Dragon Boat Festival. Popular fillings include:

• Red bean paste
• Dates
• Pork/Chinese sausage
• Mung beans
• Chestnut
• Egg yolks

Dagao Glutinous Rice Cakes

Another way glutinous rice is enjoyed at this time of year is via these delicious rice cakes. They are made with mugwort and sticky rice for a delectable, chewy experience. These cakes are most commonly eaten in the Northeastern Jilin province.

Jiandui

These are wheat and rice flour-based fried cakes, most commonly enjoyed in Fujian province. The legend behind these bites is that they symbolically help fill the holes in the sky as it enters the rainy season to prevent it from raining without stopping.

Eel

Eels are in season during the Dragon Boat Festival, so are often enjoyed during this time. Eel dishes are succulent, rich and full of nutritional value.

Tea Eggs

Eggs boiled in tea are well-known Chinese delicacies and are especially enjoyed in Jiangxi province during the Boat Festival celebrations. When cooked, the shells of the eggs are painted red to bring good luck.

Realgar Wine

Also enjoyed during the festival is realgar or xionghuang wine, a tasty accompaniment to your zongzi dumplings. The Chinese alcoholic drink is made by combining powdered realgar, a yellow-coloured arsenic sulphide mineral, with Huangjiu, a Chinese yellow wine to form the drink. In traditional Chinese medicine, realgar is considered to be an antidote that cures all ills, including acting as protection against everything from snakes to evil spirits. Alcohol is considered Yin, so drinking it is thought to rebalance you in times of Yang, like the Dragon Boat Festival. Will you be enjoying any Dragon Boat Festival traditions this year? Celebrations like this present a great opportunity to enjoy different Asian foods that you might not have tried before. Once this festival is over, you can look forward to the mid-autumn festival, where mooncakes are on the menu!